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Arellano, EAC become probationary NCAA members

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has officially elevated the status of Arellano U and Emilio Aguinaldo College from guest teams to probationary members for Season 86.

Val Cayco, Arellano U’s chief marketing man who also personally oversees the school’s athletic affairs, said they received the news in a letter from the NCAA on Friday.

“It’s a happy news for us because it’s really our dream to be part of as big a league as the NCAA," Cayco said in a statement.

The letter was signed by league president and San Beda rector Rev. Fr. Mateo de Jesus, ODB.

“In behalf of the members of the Policy Board of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, I wish to formally convey to you the admission of Arellano U as a regular member of the league on a probationary status starting Season 86," de Jesus wrote in the correspondence to AU.

The decision, said de Jesus, was arrived at during the Policy Board meeting held last Jan. 20 at San Beda College.

“We in the Policy Board congratulate AU in this momentous occasion and we look forward to your active participation in the years ahead," he added.

De Jesus said the terms and conditions like the “entrance fee," events to be participated in, etc. would be announced soon.

“The terms and conditions that will govern our acceptance will be sent at a later date in a separate communication," he said.

EAC has also received a similar letter and expressed excitement to show its wares again in Season 86.

The AU Chiefs and the EAC Generals along the Angeles U Foundation Great Danes are seeing action in the ongoing NCAA Season 85 merely as guest teams but only the first two were granted membership for showing they are capable of fielding teams in nearly all the events.

In basketball, Arellano proved it could compete with the big boys by finishing a strong fifth place while EAC showed some flashes of brilliance with wins over highly-touted members. - GMANews.TV